“A CUSTOM IS THE MOST IMPORTANT VISITOR ON OUR PREMISES.

HE’S NOT DEPENDANT ON US. WE ARE DEPENDANT ON HIM.

HE IS NOT AN INTERRUPTION IN OUR WORK. HE IS THE PURPOSE OF IT.

HE IS NOT AN OUTSIDER IN OUR BUSINESS. HE IS PART OF IT.

WE ARE NOT DOING HIM A FAVOUR BY SERVING HIM.

HE IS DOING US A FAVOUR BY GIVING US THE OPPURTUNITY TO DO SO.”

MAHATMA GHANDI 1890

We were traveling up the coast of Western Australia when I lost the car key while walking up a sand dune. What a disaster, as the hope of finding it in the sand was nil! However it turned out to be a most enriching experience and I am really glad I dropped that key (we did have a spare).

When we got to Geraldton we went to Toyota and were recommended to go to Geraldton Lock and Key. While waiting at the counter I read, in a frame, the quote above from Mahatma Ghandi. The people behind the desk really followed the essence of it. I was treated with respect and got the keys cut in no time.

Afterwards I wished I had asked for a copy, so before we left Geraldton we back specially to ask for one. The receptionist, and I suspect part owner of the business, not only took the quote out of the frame to get me a good copy, but also put it in a protective plastic cover.

As I was leaving she brought out from under her desk three very ordinary stones and asked me to choose one without turning it over. When I had my choice and looked at the other side this is what I found.

OUTSIDE

INSIDE

On the leaving I went to give it back to her and she told me to keep it and when I was having a bad day to look into the stone. It is a treasured thing and I feel so much richer for having lost our key in the sand dune.

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